Asghar Stanikzai Biography

A tall middle-order batsman (and a more than handy medium-pace bowler), Stanikzai is one of the players to have risen from the domestic levels of Afghan cricket playing the Under-17s and also contributing in the team's rise from Division Five to gaining international status.

In March 2010, in an ACC Trophy match against Bhutan, Stanikzai hammered 151 off 83 balls. He played in Afghanistan’s first ODI (against Scotland) after he made his T20I debut against Ireland in February 2010. In August 2010, Stanikzai had hit his maiden First-Class ton scoring 127 against Namibia in the Inter-Continental Cup.

In March 2014, Stanikzai was involved in a crucial 168-run stand with Samiullah Shenwari which laid the foundation for Afghanistan's historic win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup — their first win against a Full-member nation. Stanikzai stroked a fluent unbeaten 91.